the golden age(金色时代)-第8章
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seeking congenial company。 I joyfully hailed him to stop and be a
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panther； but he sped away round the pond； upset Charlotte with a
boisterous caress； and seizing Jerry by the middle； disappeared with him
down the drive。 Charlotte raved； panting behind the swift…footed avenger
of crime； Rosa lay dishevelled； bereft of consciousness； Jerry himself
spread helpless arms to heaven； and I almost thought I heard a cry for
mercy； a tardy promise of amendment； but it was too late。 The Black
Man had got Jerry at last； and though the tear of sensibility might moisten
the eye； no one who really knew him could deny the justice of his fate。
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〃YOUNG ADAM CUPID〃
NO one would have suspected Edward of being in love； but that after
breakfast； with an over…acted carelessness； 〃Anybody who likes；〃 he said；
〃can feed my rabbits；〃 and he disappeared； with a jauntiness that deceived
nobody； in the direction of the orchard。 Now； kingdoms might totter and
reel； and convulsions change the map of Europe； but the iron unwritten
law prevailed； that each boy severely fed his own rabbits。 There was
good ground； then； for suspicion and alarm； and while the lettuce… leaves
were being drawn through the wires； Harold and I conferred seriously on
the situation。
It may be thought that the affair was none of our business； and indeed
we cared little as individuals。 We were only concerned as members of a
corporation； for each of whom the mental or physical ailment of one of his
fellows might have far…reaching effects。 It was thought best that Harold；
as least open to suspicion of motive； should be despatched to probe and
peer。 His instructions were； to proceed by a report on the health of our
rabbits in particular； to glide gently into a discussion on rabbits in general；
their customs； practices； and vices； to pass thence； by a natural transition；
to the female sex； the inherent flaws in its composition； and the reasons for
regarding it （speaking broadly） as dirt。 He was especially to be very
diplomatic； and then to return and report progress。 He departed on his
mission gaily； but his absence was short； and his return； discomfited and in
tears； seemed to betoken some want of parts for diplomacy。 He had
found Edward； it appeared； pacing the orchard； with the sort of set smile
that mountebanks wear in their precarious antics； fixed painfully on his
face； as with pins。 Harold had opened well； on the rabbit subject； but；
with a fatal confusion between the abstract and the concrete； had then
gone on to remark that Edward's lop…eared doe； with her long hindlegs and
contemptuous twitch of the nose； always reminded him of Sabina Larkin
（a nine… year…old damsel； child of a neighbouring farmer）： at which point
Edward； it would seem； had turned upon and savagely maltreated him；
twisting his arm and punching him in the short ribs。 So that Harold
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returned to the rabbit…hutches preceded by long…drawn wails： anon
wishing； with sobs； that he were a man； to kick his love…lorn brother： anon
lamenting that ever he had been born。
I was not big enough to stand up to Edward personally； so I had to
console the sufferer by allowing him to grease the wheels of the donkey…
carta luscious treat that had been specially reserved for me； a week past；
by the gardener's boy； for putting in a good word on his behalf with the
new kitchen…maid。 Harold was soon all smiles and grease； and I was not；
on the whole； dissatisfied with the significant hint that had been gained as
to the fons at origo mali。
Fortunately； means were at hand for resolving any doubts on the
subject； since the morning was Sunday； and already the bells were ringing
for church。 Lest the connexion may not be evident at first sight； I should
explain that the gloomy period of church… time； with its enforced inaction
and its lack of real interest passed； too； within sight of all that the village
held of fairestwas just the one when a young man's fancies lightly turned
to thoughts of love。 For such trifling the rest of the week afforded no
leisure； but in churchwell； there was really nothing else to do！ True；
naughts…and…crosses might be indulged in on fly…leaves of prayer…books
while the Litany dragged its slow length along； but what balm or what
solace could be found for the sermon？ Naturally the eye； wandering here
and there among the serried ranks； made bold； untrammelled choice
among our fair fellow…supplicants。 It was in this way that； some months
earlier； under the exceptional strain of the Athanasian Creed； my roving
fancy had settled upon the baker's wife as a fit object for a life…long
devotion。 Her riper charms had conquered a heart which none of her be…
muslined； tittering juniors had been able to subdue； and that she was
already wedded had never occurred to me as any bar to my affection。
Edward's general demeanour； then； during morning service； was safe to
convict him； but there was also a special test for the particular case。 It
happened that we sat in a transept； and； the Larkins being behind us；
Edward's only chance of feasting on Sabina's charms was in the all…too
fleeting interval when we swung round eastwards。 I was not mistaken。
During the singing of the Benedictus the impatient one made several false
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starts； and at last he slewed fairly round before 〃As it was in the beginning；
is now； and ever shall be〃 was half finished。 The evidence was
conclusive： a court of law could have desired no better。
The fact being patent； the next thing was to grapple with it； and my
mind was fully occupied during the sermon。 There was really nothing
unfair or unbrotherly in my attitude。 A philosophic affection such as
mine own； which clashed with nothing； was （I held） permissible； but the
volcanic passions in which Edward indulged about once a quarter were a
serious interference with business。 To make matters worse； next week
there was a circus coming to the neighbourhood； to which we had all been
strictly forbidden to go； and without Edward no visit in contempt of law
and orders could be successfully brought off。 I had sounded him as to
the circus on our way to church； and he had replied briefly that the very
thought of a clown made him sick。 Morbidity could no further go。 But
the sermon came to an end without any line of conduct having suggested
itself； and I walked home in some depression； feeling sadly that Venus was
in the ascendant and in direful opposition； while Aurigathe circus star
drooped declinant； perilously near the horizon。
By the irony of fate； Aunt Eliza； of all people； turned out to be the Dea
ex machina： which thing fell out in this wise。 It was that lady's
obnoxious practice to issue forth； of a Sunday afternoon； on a visit of state
to such farmers and cottagers as dwelt at hand； on which occasion she was
wont to hale a reluctant boy along with her； from the mixed motives of
propriety and his soul's health。 Much cudgelling of brains； I suppose；
had on that particular day made me torpid and unwary。 Anyhow； when a
victim came to be sought for； I fell an easy prey； while the others fled
scatheless and whooping。 Our first visit was to the Larkins。 Here
ceremonial might be viewed in its finest flower； and we conducted
ourselves； like Queen Elizabeth when she trod the measure； 〃high and
disposedly。〃 In the low； oak…panelled parlour； cake and currant wine
were set forth； and after courtesies and compliments exchanged； Aunt
Eliza； greatly condescending； talked the fashions with Mrs Larkin； while
the farmer and I； perspiring with the unusual effort； exchanged remarks on
the mutability of the weather and the steady fall in the price of corn。
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（Who would have thought； to hear us； that only two short days ago we had
confronted each other on either side of a hedge；I triumphant； provocative；
derisive； he flushed； wroth； cracking his whip； and volleying forth
profanity？
So powerful is all…subduing ceremony！） Sabina the while； demurely
seated with a Pilgrim's Progress on her knee； and apparently absorbed in a
brightly coloured presentment of 〃Apollyon Straddling Right across the
Way；〃 eyed me at times with shy interest； but repelled all Aunt Eliza's
advances with a frigid politeness for which I could not sufficiently admire
her。
〃It's surprising to me；〃 I heard my aunt remark presently； 〃how my
eldest nephew； Edward； despises little girls。 I heard him tell Charlotte
the other day that he wished he could exchange her for a pair of Japanese
guinea…pigs。 It made the poor child cry。 Boys are so heartless！〃 （I
saw Sabina stiffen as she sat； and her tip…tilted nose twitched scornfully。）
〃Now this boy here〃 （my soul descended into my very boots。 Could the
woman have intercepted any
